Love Kansas?

These 12 Candid Photos Show What Life Was Like In Kansas In the 1930s

Odds are you weren’t here in the 1930s, but our oldest readers may remember all the sights and sounds from this decade, even the music. Kansas in the 1930s was very eventful, but these stunning still shots from around the state in various years really show us what life was like back then.

This man in a tall, tall stetson hat looked very fashionable on this Kansas street corner. What do you think? A sign on the pole advertises a "free fair" and auto race on September 11th and 13th. Behind him is "Albertland mensear" and a "Karmelkorn shop". It's almost like we're right there with him.

However, later in the day, a huge dust storm snuffed out all of the light, and this photo was sent along with a message that said, "Dear Mr. Roosevelt, Darkness came when it hit us. Picture taken from water tower one hundred feet high. Yours Truly, Chas. P. Williams."

These women were part of the Farm Labor Union in 1938, which was unit "2b". There's sashes on each member, and you can almost read the names of the towns. In the front on the far left seems to be Galena, and the third from the left in front might be Abilene, if my eyes don't fool me. Can you spot any other towns?